Tommy Fleetwood’s Driver Choice

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Quick Answer

• Tommy Fleetwood has been seen gaming the TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus driver, a top-tier choice for pros.
• He’s a known TaylorMade loyalist, often seen with their latest high-performance models.
• Remember, pro gear can change on a dime based on course conditions or personal preference. It’s a dynamic game.

Who This Is For

• Golfers curious about what drivers the pros, like Fleetwood, are putting in play to gain that edge.
• Anyone looking to understand how tour players dial in their equipment for maximum launch, forgiveness, and miss-pattern matching, and maybe even apply some of those principles to their own game.

What Driver is Tommy Fleetwood Using? First Checks

Before diving deep, let’s get a handle on the basics. This is like checking the weather before you head out on a hike.

• Recent Tour Photos: Scan the latest tournament images from reputable golf news outlets. Look for clear shots of his driver head. You’re hunting for visible branding and the distinctive shape of the club.
• Equipment Reports: Reputable golf equipment news sites and tour vans are goldmines for this info. They often break down pro bags after big events, detailing the exact models and sometimes even specs.
• Club Branding: The logo and model name etched or painted on the driver head are your best clues. TaylorMade’s Stealth series is pretty distinctive, with its carbon-face technology.
• Shaft Details: While harder to spot from a distance, the shaft brand and flex can offer supporting evidence. I’ve seen him with high-end shafts like Project X or Fujikura, which are common on tour.
• Visible Adjustments: Look closely at the sole of the driver. The Stealth 2 Plus has a prominent sliding weight track. Seeing the weight positioned in a certain spot can tell you a lot about his tuning preferences.

Step-by-Step Plan: Identifying Tommy Fleetwood’s Driver

Okay, let’s get down to business. Figuring out exactly what driver a pro is using requires a bit of detective work. It’s not always as simple as just seeing a logo.

• Action: Hunt down recent, high-resolution photos of Fleetwood on the course during official tour events.
• What to look for: Clear shots of the driver face and crown. You’re looking for the distinctive Stealth 2 shape, the red accents, and any visible branding like “Stealth 2 Plus” or the TaylorMade logo. Pay attention to the color of the face – the Stealth line is known for its red carbon.
• Mistake to avoid: Relying on photos from practice rounds, social media posts from years ago, or images with poor quality. Pro equipment can change between tournaments, so you need the latest intel. It’s like trying to navigate with an old trail map; it might get you lost.
• Action: Hit up reliable golf news and equipment websites that specialize in tour pro setups.
• What to look for: Articles specifically detailing Fleetwood’s bag setup for recent major championships or PGA Tour events. These reports often mention the exact driver model, loft, shaft type, and even weight settings. Look for names like “Golfweek,” “Golf Digest,” or specialized equipment review sites.
• Mistake to avoid: Trusting a single, unverified forum post or a fan-made wiki. Cross-referencing information from multiple reputable sources is crucial for accuracy.
• Action: Pinpoint the specific driver model series and its designation.
• What to look for: The name etched or painted on the clubhead. For Fleetwood, it’s highly likely to be a TaylorMade Stealth model. Given his preference for performance and adjustability, the “Plus” version, like the Stealth 2 Plus, is a strong contender. Look for markings that differentiate it from the standard Stealth 2 or older SIM models.
• Mistake to avoid: Confusing different generations of TaylorMade drivers (e.g., SIM, SIM2, Stealth, Stealth 2) or their sub-models (e.g., Stealth 2 vs. Stealth 2 Plus vs. Stealth 2 HD). Each has distinct performance characteristics, particularly regarding launch, spin, and forgiveness. The Plus models typically offer a more neutral bias and greater adjustability.
• Action: Investigate the driver shaft. This is where a lot of the magic happens.
• What to look for: Brand name (like Fujikura, Mitsubishi Chemical, Project X) and the flex designation (e.g., X-Flex, S-Flex) printed on the shaft. Tour players often have custom-tipped shafts or specific counterbalances. You might see specific model names like “Ventus Black” or “Tensei White.”
• Mistake to avoid: Assuming it’s a stock shaft that comes off the shelf. Tour pros get custom-built shafts tailored to their swing speed, transition, and desired launch conditions. A stock shaft might be too stiff, too soft, or have the wrong kick point for their game.
• Action: Examine the adjustable weight track on the sole.
• What to look for: The position of the sliding weight (or weights) on the Stealth 2 Plus. Is it positioned towards the heel, toe, front, or back? This tells you about his preference for shot shape bias (draw/fade) and potentially spin characteristics. The Stealth 2 Plus has a track that allows for significant adjustment.
• Mistake to avoid: Ignoring the weight track. It’s a primary tuning element for these modern drivers. For players like Fleetwood who generate significant speed, fine-tuning this can dramatically impact ball flight and reduce misses. For instance, moving the weight towards the heel can help promote a draw, while moving it towards the toe can help combat a slice.

Understanding Tommy Fleetwood’s Driver Setup

Let’s dig into what makes a tour player’s driver, especially Tommy Fleetwood’s, a cut above the rest. It’s all about maximizing launch, finding forgiveness where it counts, and ensuring the shaft fits their unique swing like a glove.

• Launch Conditions are Key: For a player like Fleetwood, who has a powerful swing, optimizing launch angle and spin rate is paramount. The TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus is known for its low spin characteristics and the ability to generate high launch angles, especially when paired with the right shaft. The “Plus” model offers a more compact shape and a neutral bias, appealing to players who can control the clubface and want to dial in their trajectory. It’s about getting the ball up in the air quickly but with enough speed to carry.
• Forgiveness in the Right Places: While pros can hit it pure, even they miss the sweet spot sometimes. The Stealth 2 Plus, with its advanced materials and design, offers a degree of forgiveness, particularly in managing spin and ball speed on off-center hits. The carbon-face technology helps maintain ball speed across a larger area of the clubface than traditional metal faces. This is crucial for consistency, especially when facing demanding course layouts where every yard counts.
• Shaft Fit: The Unsung Hero: The shaft is more than just a stick connecting the grip to the head. For a tour player, it’s a critical component that dictates flex, kick point, torque, and weight distribution. Fleetwood likely uses a shaft that is specifically designed or tipped to match his aggressive swing tempo and transition. This could be a high-end Fujikura Ventus Black, a Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana, or a Project X. A shaft that’s too flexible can lead to hooks or loss of control, while one that’s too stiff can cause a loss of distance and a push. The right shaft helps him achieve that optimal launch and spin profile, and importantly, provides the feedback he needs to feel confident over the ball.
• Miss-Pattern Matching: Pros don’t just want to hit it straight; they want to manage their misses. The adjustability of the Stealth 2 Plus, particularly the sliding weight track, allows Fleetwood to fine-tune his driver to minimize his misses. If he’s fighting a slice on a particular course, he might move the weight towards the heel to encourage a draw. If he’s hitting it too low, he might adjust loft or weight settings to promote a higher launch. This adaptability is what separates tour equipment from standard retail offerings. It’s about having a driver that works with his swing, not against it.

Common Mistakes in Driver Identification

Let’s talk about the pitfalls. It’s easy to get this wrong if you’re not careful.

• Mistake: Using outdated information.
• Why it matters: Tour players tweak their equipment constantly to match course conditions, personal form, or new technology released by manufacturers. What a player used last season might not be what they’re using this week.
• Fix: Always seek out the most recent tour reports, event coverage, and reputable equipment breakdowns. Aim for information from the last few tournaments.
• Mistake: Misidentifying the driver model or its specific variant.
• Why it matters: Different models (e.g., Stealth 2 vs. Stealth 2 Plus vs. Stealth 2 HD) offer distinct launch characteristics, spin rates, and forgiveness profiles. The “Plus” version often has more adjustability and a different shape than the standard model.
• Fix: Carefully examine the branding on the clubhead and compare it with official product images from the manufacturer. Pay attention to subtle differences in shape and markings.
• Mistake: Assuming standard retail specifications.
• Why it matters: Tour pros use custom-fitted drivers. Loft, lie angle, shaft flex, shaft weight, grip type, and even specific weight settings are all meticulously dialed in by their club technicians. What you buy off the rack is rarely what they play.
• Fix: Look for details on custom specs whenever possible. This includes loft (often adjustable), shaft type and flex, and any specific weight settings mentioned in tour reports.
• Mistake: Focusing only on the driver head.
• Why it matters: The shaft is arguably as important as the head, if not more so, for a tour player. It dictates flex, weight, kick point, and how the club feels and performs throughout the swing. A mismatch here can ruin an otherwise great driver.
• Fix: Try to identify the shaft brand, model, and flex. This provides a much fuller picture of the club’s performance characteristics and how it’s tailored to the player.
• Mistake: Confusing driver heads from different manufacturers.
• Why it matters: While some visual cues might seem similar, the engineering and performance characteristics of drivers from different brands (e.g., TaylorMade, Titleist, Callaway) are distinct.
• Fix: Be certain about the manufacturer’s logo and the specific model line before making assumptions.

FAQ

• What is Tommy Fleetwood’s current driver?

Tommy Fleetwood has been frequently seen using the TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus driver. This model is favored by many tour professionals for its adjustability and performance characteristics.

• Has Tommy Fleetwood always used TaylorMade drivers?

While he has been a prominent TaylorMade staffer for a significant period, professional golfers sometimes switch brands or use older models from a previous manufacturer. However, his recent bag setups have consistently featured TaylorMade drivers, particularly from the Stealth and SIM eras.

• What are the typical specifications for a tour player’s driver?

Tour player drivers are highly customized. They typically feature specific lofts (often adjustable within a range), custom-tuned shafts (specific flex, weight, and kick point), and precise weight adjustments within the driver head to optimize launch conditions, spin rates, and ball flight for their unique swing.

• Why do pros like Tommy Fleetwood often use the “Plus” version of drivers?

The “Plus” models, like the Stealth 2 Plus, often offer more adjustability options (like a wider sliding weight track) and a more compact, player-preferred shape compared to their standard counterparts. This appeals to players who generate high clubhead speeds and prefer to fine-tune their launch trajectory, spin, and shot-shaping capabilities.

• How can I find out what driver a specific pro is using right now?

Your best bet is to check reputable golf equipment websites that publish tour bag breakdowns after tournaments, or look for high-resolution photos from recent professional events. These sources are usually updated quickly as equipment changes.

• Does Tommy Fleetwood’s driver choice indicate what I should use?

Not directly. While it’s interesting to see what pros use, their equipment is highly specialized for their unique swing speeds, tempos, and desired ball flights. You should focus on finding a driver that fits your game, considering your swing speed, typical miss, and desired launch conditions. A fitting session with a professional is the best way to determine that.

• What makes the TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus driver special for tour players?

The Stealth 2 Plus features a 60X Carbon Twist Face, designed for increased ball speed and durability. It also offers a 360° Carbon Chassis and a sliding weight track that allows for significant adjustability in terms of draw/fade bias and spin. This combination of speed technology and fine-tuning capability makes it a top choice for players seeking maximum performance and control.